Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disorder and low back disorder. The Board finds that these conditions are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right knee and left knee disorders.

The Veteran's back disability is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to service. The appeal will be reconsidered after the examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy and a non-specific increase in the fluid in several areas of the left ankle, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the criteria for an initial compensable disability rating for TMJ and bruxism, or any other service-connected conditions are not met. The lumbar spine disability has been rated appropriately.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the appellant's claim for service connection for a back disability, including due to exposure to herbicides. This includes obtaining VA treatment records from relevant time periods, ensuring all service personnel records are associated with the claims file, and scheduling the appellant for a VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew from appeal the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a low back disability at his hearing before the Board in April 2012.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for his right foot fracture was denied. The Board found no evidence of moderate residuals to warrant a higher rating, and the Veteran's right foot is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain VA medical records and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's current chronic thoracolumbar spine strain is found to be related to her military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of his lumbar spine is aggravated by his service-connected residuals of a right knee injury, postoperative right total knee arthroplasty. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to his active military service, and as such, grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's chronic bilateral foot rash and arthritis of the lumbosacral spine were found to have onset during active military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain prior to March 5, 2004 was manifested by intermittent back pain with mild limitation of lumbar motion. No evidence of severe lumbosacral strain or ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine was found.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back and hip disorders are not service-connected, as there is no competent medical evidence to support a finding of in-service injury or disease. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that his current conditions were incurred during active duty.

The appellant's non-service-connected disabilities, including osteoarthritis of the thoracic spine and right knee pain, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total rating for non-service-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected low back disability was denied. The Board also found that the Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU based on his current level of disability and inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination to determine the severity of his service-connected bilateral pes planus and whether any claimed conditions are secondary to that disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his current back condition.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his spinal and extremity disabilities, including ratings for cervical spine fusion, lumbar spine conditions, radiculopathies of the upper and lower extremities. The case is being remanded due to a need for a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU rating were denied. The Veteran was service-connected for DDD of the lumbosacral spine, depressive disorder, sleep apnea, chronic maxillary sinusitis, and erectile dysfunction.